Turf sprint among full-field events on penultimate day of meet

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – They’re emptying out the condition book – and the barns – for the final two days of the Churchill Downs spring meet.

An 11-race Friday program drew a whopping 145 entries, which includes 18 also-eligibles and 14 exclusions. For a 12-race closing-day card Saturday, similarly large numbers are expected when entries are drawn Wednesday, with three stakes, three allowances, and two maiden-specials among the book offerings.

Two turf allowances are the highlights of the penultimate card Friday. Race 5 is a $97,000 first-level mile for fillies and mares, with a field of 10 plus four also-eligibles. Orageuse, favorably drawn along the hedge in post 1, is one of a handful of contenders in a typically well-matched group.

Race 8, the nominal feature, is a $99,000 second-level 5 1/2-furlong sprint with an oversubscribed field of 3-year-olds and up. It’s sure to unfold in quick fractions – if only because of the presence of the ultra-speedy Latent Revenge in post 1 – and is a partial rerun of the June 7 race in which Kid Perfect was awarded victory on the disqualification of Johnny Obvious from first. A second key race, one from which four of the 13 entries emerge, was run June 13.

Week-long dry conditions are in the local forecast, so turf racing surely will be held as scheduled.

The feature is part of the 20-cent Single 6 (races 6-11) that has a carryover jackpot approaching $300,000 when the final three-day span of the 38-day meet begins Thursday. A mandatory disbursement of all pools is set for Saturday.

KEY CONTENDERS (race 8)

Kid Perfect, by Majesticperfection

Last 3 Beyers: 80-48-77

◗ Ran one of his best races in some time when he and jockey Adam Beschizza were awarded victory three weeks ago in one of the less controversial stewards’ decisions of the meet.

Johnny Obvious, by Wildcat Heir

Last 3 Beyers: 81-78-80

◗ Five-year-old with quicks aplenty drifted through the lane in his latest, impeding Kid Perfect and nixing what was one of his braver efforts in a while.

Sir Navigator, by Henrythenavigator

Last 3 Beyers: 91-93-81

◗ Claimed on Preakness Day by Robertino Diodoro, this 7-year-old did everything but win in a very encouraging first try for new connections.

Latent Revenge, by Latent Heat

Last 3 Beyers: 87-74-65

◗ Revenge is his name but speed is his game, as he invariably escorts his fields to the top of the lane with a blazing turn of foot.